Tag Archives: Storm

Nine dead in China as remnants of super typhoon Nepartak strike

Road heavily damaged by Typhoon Nepartak

BEIJING (Reuters) – Nine people were killed and 18 are missing after wind and driving rain bought by the remains of super typhoon Nepartak swept into China over the weekend, the government said on Monday.

The deaths were all in the southeastern province of Fujian, where the typhoon made landfall, the civil affairs ministry said in a statement on its website.

Total economic damage has been put at 900 million yuan ($134.60 million), with 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) of crops destroyed and more than 900 houses wrecked, the ministry said.

In Taiwan, the storm caused at least three deaths and more than 300 injuries.

The storm is expected to worsen already severe flooding in parts of central and eastern China as its remnants slowly make their way inland.

Typhoons are common at this time of year in the South China Sea, picking up strength over warm waters and dissipating over land.

Typhoons used to kill many people in China but the government now enforces evacuations and takes precautions well in advance, which has helped save many lives.

($1 = 6.6864 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Tornado, hail storms kill at least 51 in east China: Xinhua

Tornado and hail storm hits China

BEIJING (Reuters) – A tornado and hail storms killed at least 51 people on Thursday in the eastern Chinese province of Jiangsu, state media said.

The storms brought down power lines and houses, Xinhua news agency said.

“Downpours, hail storms and a tornado battered parts of Yancheng city … causing many houses to topple,” it said.

Pictures posted by media online showed injured people lying amid overturned houses and cars, split tree trunks and broken power lines.

Severe floods in southern China killed at least 22 people and left 20 missing earlier this week.

(Reporting by Chen Aizhu; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Colin brings strong Wind, heavy rain, flooding to southeast U.S.

Tropical Storm Colin is seen over the Gulf of Mexico

(Reuters) – Strong winds and heavy rainfall were expected across the southeastern United States on Tuesday even as the center of Tropical Storm Colin was moving into the Atlantic Ocean.

The storm was 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Charleston, South Carolina, at 4 a.m. eastern time (0800 GMT) and moving at 31 mph, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

A tropical storm warning was in effect from the Altamaha Sound Georgia to Oregon Inlet in North Carolina on Tuesday morning. On its forecast path, Colin was to barrel along the coast of the southeastern United States before moving out to sea during the day.

As 50 mph winds were expected in the region, a tornado was reported in Lee County Florida, the National Weather Service said. The storm was forecast dump as much as 1 to 3 inches more of rain as flash flood warnings and watches were in effect across the region, the hurricane center said.

Florida Governor Rick Scott, who had declared a state of emergency on Monday in 34 of the state’s 67 counties, said more than 6,000 Florida National Guard members were activated and ready for deployment.

Flooding and property damage resulting from the fierce winds remained threats into the day, and far beyond the storm’s immediate path, forecasters warned.

A statement from Scott’s office warned residents to be wary of rip currents and the possibility of 10 foot (3 m) waves along the Gulf Coast.

“It is critical that all Floridians use caution and remain alert,” he said in the statement.

In the St. Petersburg beach town of Gulfport and in Charleston, South Carolina, roads were flooded, local authorities said on social media.

About 10,000 customers were without power in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, utilities reported.

The storm also threatened crops in Florida, the country’s biggest citrus producer, which sent U.S. orange juice futures on Monday to their highest in more than two years.

Colin is part of a brisk start to the Atlantic hurricane season that runs through Nov. 30. Over the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend, the Carolinas were lashed by heavy rain and winds from Tropical Storm Bonnie.

(Reporting by Brendan O’Brien; Editing by Alison Williams)

Storms Shut Down Most of Houston

The city of Houston, Texas was largely shut down on Monday after a stalled storm system caused severe flash flooding that has schools closed, bus and rail services suspended, and government officials warning residents to stay home.

According to The Weather Channel, rainfall totals were 10-20 inches from southeast Texas to the northwest of Houston. Some places saw 3 to 4 inches of rain per hour. Authorities reported that there were at least 650 residential calls for help on Monday morning.

Harris County Judge Ed Emmett told CNN that there were at least 150 water rescues in Harris County alone, and he suspects there will be more rescues as the flooding gets worse.

CNN also reported as of mid-morning that at least 100,000 homes and businesses were without power in the Houston area, and over 1,000 homes in Harris County were flooded.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters that the Houston area schools were closed along with nine regional hospitals that were closed to additional patients. He added that three apartment buildings had been evacuated, and the residents were taking shelter in a mall. At this time, multiple news outlets have stated that there are no reports of injuries or deaths.

The storm system causing the severe flooding will continue pelting the south through Tuesday before the system moves northwest and weakens. The storm could still produce severe thunderstorms capable of producing hail, strong winds, and even isolated tornadoes, according to CBS News.

Other residents in Mississippi and Louisiana also saw flash flooding according to WISHTV. The Salvation Army, the United Way of Southeast Louisiana, Convoy of Hope, Mercy Chefs, and the Second Harvest Food Bank are all taking donations for the victims of the flooding in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Oklahoma has also seen flooding according Oklahoma City station, KOCO. Approximately 7,000 acres of farmland is under water, and the Washita River is expected to crest Monday evening, bringing even more flooding.

Winter Weather overtakes Spring

A pedestrian with a red umbrella waits in the snow during a spring snow storm

By Scott Malone and Valerie Vande Panne

BOSTON (Reuters) – Massachusetts, New Hampshire and upstate New York braced for up to 6 inches (15 cm) of snow on Monday as forecasters warned that winter weather would overtake the area even as spring entered its second week.

Police warned motorists to slow down and some schools opened late in the area as the storm blew in during the morning commute and threatened to linger through the evening rush hour, with temperatures holding around 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-3.9°C).

Some harried travelers said they were ready for the climate to catch up with the calendar.

“It’s freezing. I’m tired. It’s April,” Carolyn Thomson, 45, said as she rushed to her job at a downtown Boston financial firm. “It should be over by now. I’m worried about getting my son to school on time. I’m late for work.”

While National Weather Service forecasters said the snow would continue to accumulate through the day, forecasts called for a return to warmer weather by Wednesday, suggesting the white coating would be short-lived.

Following an unusually mild winter, which followed Boston’s record-setting 9 feet (2.74 m) of snow during the winter of 2014-15, one man who makes his living cleaning up after storms said he liked the late storm.

“It’s New England. I’m very happy. It’s overtime,” Pablo Guerrero, a 44-year-old maintenance worker, said as he shoveled a downtown sidewalk. “Last year it was better.”

(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Bill Trott)

Joel Richardson Warns, “There is a Storm Brewing”

On our first exciting evening service for the prophetic conference here at Morningside, Joel Richardson began his message with one clear word on the prophetic.

“You don’t need to be a prophet to understand the big picture. For the finer details, yes you might need to be one, but in terms of understanding what’s unfolding right now all over the world, it is actually very simple. There is a storm brewing.”

Joel Richardson knows when a storm is coming. As the son of a fisherman, he grew up in an area plagued by hurricanes, Now he lives in the midwest where storms can come up quickly and produce destructive tornadoes. Joel explained that hurricanes begin as a tropical storm, far away, The storm is out there, swirling in the ocean. Then 2 , 3 or 4 days down the road you see the entire coast engulfed in this massive storm system and on alert. You can look on a map and see the hurricane swallowing half of the country.

According to Pastor Richardson, “If we want to understand the story of what is happening in our world right now we have to begin by understanding the basic story of the Bible, which is this: The God of Heaven and Earth has made a promise, He has made vows, He has actually made vows unto death, and these promises have to do with what is happening right now. These promises involve a very specific piece of real estate; a very specific spot on the map that is called the city of Jerusalem, in the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel is like a tropical storm right now, and the storm is beginning to brew and to swirl.”

Richardson explained that the scriptures teach that eventually the storm that begins around Jerusalem, the rage of Satan against the fulfillment of God’s promises, will pull every nation on earth into its destructive power.

“The storm is already beginning, we are already starting to feel the winds of this storm. This is a storm that eventually will affect everyone on this earth. This will be an economic storm, it will be a storm that will affect nature with natural disasters, it will be a military storm, there will be very real wars. Beyond that it is a theological storm, an ideological storm. This storm will involve deception and this is one of the first things that we need to be made aware of.”

Joel stressed that before we feel the winds of decimation we will, even in the church, feel the winds of deception. He warned against the danger of believing in replacement theology. A theology that states in effect, that the church has superseded Israel; that God has transferred his plans and purposes from Israel to the church. When in fact, God made these promises to Jerusalem over and over in His Word. Israel is his Jewel and it in the city of Jerusalem that Jesus will have His throne.

Listening to Joel speak is always compelling.The biblical knowledge on Israel and on her enemies are an incredible gift to understanding God’s plans. Joel describes Jesus as sitting on the right hand of God, now, interceding for us. He is waiting…His heart is burning. He wants to come back more than WE want him to come back. And it is almost time.

In closing, Joel Richardson tells us all to keep our eyes on the Middle East and be wary of the winds that we feel from there.

“It is right in front of us, the battle… the storm. Watch Israel. Watch Jerusalem.”

There is a storm brewing.

 

Our Prophetic Week DVD is now available containing every taping of the Jim Bakker Show with all of our amazing guests, as well as Morningside’s inspirational evening services including Joel Richardson during Prophetic week 2016.                                 

Washington State Storm Kills 2 and Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power

A storm in Washington state brought high winds of up to 49 miles per hour, downing trees and triggering mudslides on Tuesday. The storm has so far killed 2 people and has left over hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Seattle-area without power.

The National Weather Service told Reuters that the majority of the Puget Sound region was under flood watches and warnings through Wednesday afternoon. A windstorm warning has also been issued for Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho since Tuesday at noon according to ABC News.

At least two people have been officially reported dead, with some news agencies reporting a third death. In all incidents, downed trees landed on all the victims. Their identities have not been officially released.

The local power companies have told various news sources that almost 178,000 customers are without power in the Puget Sound region due to power lines being downed by trees and landslides. Fox News reports that a power failure at a Tacoma sewer treatment plant has led to sewage water being released into the Puyallup River. Additionally, 136,000 homes and businesses were without power in Spokane and Northern Idaho. Flights leaving or entering the Spokane International Airport had to be cancelled or delayed due to the storm.

Fallen trees and high winds have also led various roads and interstates being closed, including Interstate 84, Highway 2, and Interstate 90.

In other parts of the country, another storm system dumped heavy snow on Colorado and brought tornado threats to millions in the central and southern states, according to Fox News. Northwest Kansas is forecasted to receive up to 15 inches of snow. Two weak tornadoes touched down in Texas early Tuesday and no injuries were reported.

South Central States to Expect Torrential Storm and Flash Flooding

Accuweather and The Weather Channel reported today that South Central states should expect a bad storm system coming in from the Gulf of Mexico that will bring major rainfall and flooding to the area, leaving more than 10 million people under flash flood watches.

Forecasters expect 4 to 8 inches of rainfall throughout portions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Louisiana. Some communities may even see up to a foot of rainfall. Forecasters believe that some of the power and moisture from Hurricane Patricia may contribute to the storm but the main cause of the storm is various sources of moisture are converging in the area.

Accuweather warns that the current dry conditions in Texas may result in worse conditions as a significant amount of rain can run off the dry, hard ground.

As the storm continues moving east, Accuweather states that there will be a greater increase of flooding in urban areas, large rivers, and major highways for Friday, the weekend, and early next week. They expect some communities will have to evacuate due to the flash flooding.

Residents in Midland and Odessa, Texas already experienced flooding early Thursday morning, submerging vehicles in high water and flooding homes.

Death Toll in South Carolina Rises to 9 Due to Flooding and Torrential Rain

In a news conference on Monday, Governor Nikki Haley stated that nine people are now dead in South Carolina due to the extreme weather.

Authorities have encouraged residents to stay home the past few days as more than 25 inches of rain has fallen, causing half the state to be affected by flooding Monday morning. Dozens of roads and interstate highways are closed. Of the nine people who were killed, four were killed in traffic accidents. First responders received 910 calls for collisions since the downpour began.

Over the weekend, at least 600 National Guardsmen, 11 aircraft, and 8 swift water rescue teams performed more than 200 water rescues. Over 1,000 law enforcement and 1,000 workers for the transportation department were on duty. Two dozen shelters have opened for those displaced, and utility crews are still trying to restore power to 30,000 customers.

Gov. Haley also addressed another issue: getting clean drinking water to 40,000 people who don’t have it.

“We have quite a few water issues,” Haley said. “Either people are without water or contaminated water.”

Walmart has donated 80,000 bottles of water, and officials are setting up water distribution stations throughout the state.

State officials are calling the situation a 1,000 year storm – a reference to a weather term describing a storm with a 1-in-1,000 chance of happening in any given year. The National Weather Service reported that Sunday was the wettest day in the history of Columbia, with the rainfall total at 6.87 inches.

While the rain is slowing and will soon move out of the region, meteorologists report that as much as two inches could still fall and that most rivers will not crest for another two weeks.

Some South Carolina residents were absolutely devastated by the storm. Columbia resident, Angela Williams, told CNN that the storm destroyed her neighborhood.

“We have lost everything. What I got on my body is what we have,” she told CNN affiliate WIS-TV. “Pretty much everybody down that hill there has lost everything … our vehicles, our clothes, everything.”

She added: “But the best thing is that we still have our lives.”

Super Typhoon Soudelor Heading For Taiwan

A storm that could prove to be the strongest of the year is bearing down on Taiwan.

Super Typhoon Soudelor is a category 5 storm, the strongest level for a storm.  The storm has been reported to have sustained winds of 160 m.p.h. and gusts of 180 m.p.h.

NASA has been tracking the storm and says that it is tracking toward northern Taiwan and mainland China.  They predict the storm will weaken before making the landfall sometime Thursday on Taiwan.

“There is growing concern that Taiwan and the southern Ryukyu Islands will have to contend with Soudelor as early as Thursday night or Friday with impacts lasting into early next week across eastern China,” AccuWeather meteorologist Eric Leister said to the USA Today.

The storm already has caused major damage on the island of Saipan north of Guam.  The storm crossed the island as a Category 2 storm on Sunday night.  U.S. officials have been rushing relief supplies to Guam to take to Saipan.

Thousands of residents of Saipan are in shelters.